Liverpool Banter Archive September 06 2013

 

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06 Sep 2013 22:45:21
I'm not sure if anyone else has mentioned this, but the positivity on here at the moment is really quite refreshing. Keep it up!

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Amazing what a few wins and new signings will do to some peoples moods

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No-one can complain if we're winning, although the best thing is we haven't lost and we haven't even played that well yet.

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06 Sep 2013 21:15:00
Hi Eds & Reds,

Just thought I would post up a little 'scouting' update on young Suso seeing as a lot of people are asking for it.

In a nutshell, before I go into a little more detail, he's doing great! The fans are loving him (just as long as they know where he belongs) and he looks like he's relishing the opportunity thus far although he is yet to score.

Let's kick off with the main thing for an attacking midfielder (besides goals), assists. Suso has started all of Almeria's 3 games & hasn't been subbed off so far (270 mins!) and has managed 2 assists in this time, with the pick of the pair coming against Getafe when he threaded a beautiful ball through to Rodri, the other one came against Villareal via. a cross.

However I think the best stat, that really shows this lads immense work rate, is his tackles in these 3 games, he's made 7 attempted tackles in the 3 games he's played and of those 7 all have been successful. He's an attacking midfielder averaging 2.33 Successful tackles per game.

Finally, passing, he's attempted 100 passes with 75 succeeding (75%). Taking into account the fact that A) his team aren't really flying at the minute & B) His position requires him take risks, 75% is a really decent return.

From the games I've seen he really is a future star in his own right & if he keeps these kind of performances up we're going to have to wrestle him off the Almeria fans as they will only grow to love him & from the evidence that process has started already :)

YNWA & Good luck against Atletico Suso,

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Great post, keep it up and follow him, I want to hear more

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Nice update! Such a loan will bring Suso on nicely and by the sounds he has had a great start.

An extremely talented player destined for a great career if he can continue to grow as he has, top quality vision and balance with the ball and a peach of a left foot, keep it up Suso!

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Thanks for the update!

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As long as you understand what I'm tryin to say its ok, lol it was half me and half autocorrect on my phone

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Great update, sounds all good to me and always thought, he's a LFC legend in the making if he keeps it up.

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07 Sep 2013 09:27:25
Fantastic post mate. A lot of people were annoyed when Suso went on loan saying he could be getting first team minutes here, but i'm fully in support of the move. let's be honest in the last three games he may not have featured at all for us or maybe 20 minutes at the end of one of the games, although with the slim nature of our wins probably not.
In Spain he has played all three games, so he has 270 minutes so far as opposed to maybe a total of one half if he had stayed, he needs the regular full matches to fill his potential.
Anyone who is watching our loaness regularly, it would be much appreciated if you could report back now and then, cheers lads.

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06 Sep 2013 20:30:05
Anyone see Gerrards bicycle kick?!? Go on son! You show them kids how its done!

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I love Stevie with the bottom of my heart, but when he kicked that lad's backside instead of the ball, I couldn't help but chuckle. Atta boy Stevie!

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06 Sep 2013 20:30:02
Time for benny ballers evening debate. And tonight's a goody! With it being international night! England seems to be setup as Liverpool do, on paper at least. So tonights debate is, which 3 would you play in the middle? I'll kick it off, my holders would be carrick and stevie, with wilshere in front of them. As much as we dislike united, I really appreciate the attributes, physicality and style carrick has, don't bash me!
Discuss!

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06 Sep 2013 23:06:03
nothing on whelan lad!

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England have no decent dm's, it's embarrassing. Shame Rodwell followed his greed and not his career because he would be an established england international by now in my mind (injuries permitting). But yeah I'd have to agree with your midfield choices!

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Carrick is very ordinary

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Carrick is far to underrated and was the back bone to united winning the title chris. IMO.

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Wow Chris, he's improved that much to become ordinary, I thought he was a poor man's Ray Wilkins or short pass Phil Babb.

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06 Sep 2013 19:38:05
Think Liverpool are genuinly guna smash it this season when Suarez comes back definately champions league. I say its guna be different following my heart last few seasons but this time my head says it, gerrard is immense and him being in that holding position really protects our much improved back four, sakho guna be a Top top buy.
YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE!
Come on the almighty team that is LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB!

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06 Sep 2013 18:26:47
A lot of people including myself had Chelsea, Man City and Man united as certs to be in the top 3, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs fighting it out for 4th. But thinking about it those first 3 sides have brand new managers so maybe that's equalled things up. I know for one thing, its going to be a very exciting season.

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06 Sep 2013 20:58:13
Personally I feel the title is either Chelsea's or Man City's, the just have the quality and depth but I can't see a reason why United is above the likes of us, Arsenal and Spurs. I* think they will end up with 3rd but not unless Moyes ups his game and get the old united winning attitude which I fear may have left with Fergie.

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06 Sep 2013 17:51:33
How is Suso doing so far?

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3 games 3 assists he's one of the stand out players in there team.

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06 Sep 2013 17:11:03
Hi guys
With the news that Alan Hansen is retiring from Match of the Day, I was just wondering:
-Of those of you who seen him playing live how would you rate him as a player (I was only a kid during his prime)
-How would you rate him as a commentator/analyst?
-Who is your top rated ex-Liverpool analyst/commentator?
-Who is your top rated overall analyst/commentator.
Thanks

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For me, there's no doubting he was one of the greatest defenders Liverpool have ever seen. As a 'pundit' he certainly knows more than me, but I feel it's better when a pundit has recently played the game and its certainly more interesting to hear the views of say Carra/Neville who are fresh out the game and have actually gone toe to toe with most of the players they're commenting on {Ed001's Note - as a player he was immense, one of the best defenders the world has ever seen, let alone us. Knee injuries limited him, but Scotland's failure in the 86 World Cup was assured the moment Fergie decided not to take him. As for commentators and analysts, they are only saying what the producer tells them to, so I don't care for any of them. The only analyst I have ever rated was George Graham in the early days of Sly's coverage of the Prem. I didn't have Sly, so only got to see him on there once, round a neighbour's house, when he did a tactical breakdown of defending. He showed how he used to organise his defences, what the full backs should do and when etc. It was not the most exciting televisual spectacle, but it was a very informative explanation of how to defend. Unfortunately the lack of excitement means we instead get Slypad with it's over the top graphics, rather than a real tactical breakdown of the play nowadays.}

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As a player Hansen was one of the best centre-half's to wear a Liverpool shirt.

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06 Sep 2013 18:47:58
i would rate Hansen a brilliant analyst especially explaining defensive mistakes teams systems not working, pointing out weakness in players. imo Liverpool should hire alan to go and watch opponents and give br an update on opponents a week in advance, whilst also acting as a scout for the club.i don't know many ex Liverpool players that actually commentate but in irish tv jim beglin is pretty good.My fav analyst is eamonn dunphy I know he is a man u fan but for the craic he is great and if you have never seen some of his controversial arguments and slating of even utd and ireland go to you tube for a laugh.My fav comm has to be Brian moore, 2nd martin tyler 3rd john motson, fav comm moment would be what a hit son what a hit andy gray really captured the moment even though he wouldn't be known for having any love for us.

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As a player imho our best ever cb, also my favourite pundit.

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Hansen was just sheer class. The best thing I could say is that he seemed to have all day on the ball. A Rolls Royce of a defender.

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As an analyst, he had some howlers, "You can't win anything with kids" and "He's quick, fast and he's got pace" are some examples, but he has pretty good defence analysis.

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All round brilliant defender. Very solid at the back, good in the air, pacey, great going forward, good passer. He had it all.

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Classy defender ahead of his time to be honest. There were still a few hard men around in the game and occasionally I saw him out-battled in the air.
Prone to odd lapses in concentration too (FA cup final 1986)

However, you don't become a first team regular in the best team in Europe and win as much as he did without being world class. 3 European cups, all those league titles. He is a legend.

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Liverpool's Beckenbauer. The best defender in the clubs history. Younger fans would have been bored though by some of the keepball involving Hansen & Lawrenson before the back pass rule changed. I counted 21 passes from one to the other as a kid.

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06 Sep 2013 16:24:53
Hi eds! Happy to be on board after about 2yrs of following. Thnks for the good work. Do you think Liverpool are okay with just Jones as cover or might be looking to add a good backup on a free or in Jan. {Ed002's Note - Welcome. The third choice will be the young reserve GK. You either trust the kids at some point or let them move on. I don't see it as a priority.}

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06 Sep 2013 16:07:32
Hey Ed's. I was hoping to get the opinion of Ed001 on what he thinks of the appointment of Neil Critchley from Crewe?
Crewe seem to have a really good youth set up but I was always under the impression that was due to the work of Dario Gradi, Thoughts would be much appreciated.
Cheers. {Ed001's Note - I think it is an excellent appointment, he is a top coach by all accounts.}

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He is one the highest "qualifies" coaches in the World by all accounts, that should really help to move the youngsters forward. I hope.

I haven't heard much from Borrell so far this season, ed001 is that largely due to the change in role? I hope he isn't getting "moved aside", he's been top quality since moving to the club. Personally I thought he may be moved to first team duties when rodgers came in ahead of Marsh, who, by all accounts is doing very well. {Ed001's Note - he is just busy, I am sure he will be featured more prominently on the official site over the season, as he settles into his new role.}

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06 Sep 2013 14:09:43
A few things from lfc's last 2 transfer windows:
(1) Targeting players with great potential but have less game time at their current club (strurridge, coutinho, sakho, moses);
(2) Try not to paid over the odd and walk away if the asking price higher than their own valuation and/ or if potential bidding war risk getting higher (Miki, Willian);
(3) Lowering transfer risk by loan deal if possible (Cissoko and moses).
Anything else Ed?

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06 Sep 2013 17:32:00
Getting rid of overpaid, underperforming members of the squad, therefore trimming the wage bill?

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I think those 4 you mentioned were signed at a low risk. They'd already proved they had more than potential. They were all at clubs with big money who like to sign and play 'big name players.'

And in particular Chelsea fans must be gutted about Sturridge.

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Playing youth has been a big positive for me since Rodgers came in, Kenny played Flanno and Robbo in his brief second tenure but the squad now is much younger and fresher moving forward and gaining experience. It's a fine line and I feared we crossed it but so far, Rodgers decisions are proving to be total providence.

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06 Sep 2013 13:08:39
Is it not too early to be heating up the system with winter transfer news? There are several reports saying Arsenal will come back for Suarez in January. Eds, do you think this is reasonable? Thanks. {Ed002's Note - It is a long way off right now.}

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Its john cross who started again with the suarez stories, he just doesn't want to stop.
If you believed all what he wrote this summer suarez should be an arsenal player by now {Ed002's Note - Arsenal tried to buy the player and he would have moved. It was Liverpool that blocked it.}

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Rightly so as well ed. £40 million is way to cheap especially to a rival club.

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06 Sep 2013 13:05:26
Hi there Eds, a minor issue I know but do you know what the transfer fee was for Sakho? Reports seem to disagree whether it was around the £15m mark or the £18m mark. Cheers! {Ed002's Note - In pounds the raw transfer fee ran to a little over £15.9M.}

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For his quality that is kinda cheap

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Time will tell

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15m for Sakho is about right for his age and his immense upside. I watch the french ligue a lot an have seen him play many times since he broke into the team in 2010/11 and he is worth it. He has the hunger and determination one needs to succeed.

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I believe he will realise that potential and be top class for us.

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06 Sep 2013 11:57:35
Hi eds.

just curious to know if you guys know anything about the new and improved contract that was offered to luis suarez I've been snooping round and can't actually any information ie wages, buy out clause and if he's even signed it yet great work you guys keep it up please

ramy2007 {Ed002's Note - We have no interest in discussing wages and I know nothing of any "new and improved" contract.}

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06 Sep 2013 11:37:31
Just read a really good article on LFC website about Shankly and Steve Heighway. It got me thinking. Shankly offered Heighway £35 a week to join our club in a time when we had players like Ian St John etc, real icons. Heighway said he wanted £40 a week and Shankly was gobsmacked. If I remember correctly I was only a mere lad at the time and just starting in my career. and i'm sure I was on about £33 per week at the time, which is fairly close.

Just to be even close to what the great footballers at the time were being paid, seems unbelievable. Wind forward 40 years and compare it to today. even some of the very average players we have had in our ranks were on £40000 per WEEK! Shows you how things have changed, especially for the ones who get paid for playing football once a week with their mates!

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06 Sep 2013 12:28:05
You're telling me you don't make 150k a month? Shocking :p hehe

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You can look at it from another point of view as well. Wakefield rugby league team could fold very soon because they are short of £200k - that is equivalent to 2 of the 3 keepy-ups that Bale managed at the Bernabeu this week. after all he has done nothing else for his £300k this week.

Shanks will be turning in his grave!

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Look guys if the Owners gets to make millions top of millions from the work the players do on the pitch its those players right to get a bit of the pie.

if the players didn't get paid what the do then being a owner of a football franchise would be the easiest way to build a mega fortune and that way the rich get richer and the poor get 4grand a week for making them £350m profit each year.

{Ed002's Note - The owners are not making "millions".}

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Haych, don't think that paying the players the ridiculous amounts of money relieves the owners of the millions that they have made out of the football club - the money is actually coming out of the pockets of the people paying for the season tickets, the Sky subscriptions, the BT Broadband packages, the owners of the £60 replica kits. and us supporters keep on paying the hike in prices.

Shankley, as true socialist, would be at the forefront of the marches of supporters going on strike if he was still alive.

{Ed002's Note - I suspect you are rather over-estimating the "millions" made by club owners.}

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I agree on how Shanks would feel on this. But to be at the top these days, unfortunate or not, you need to put your hands in your pockets.

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It's a reflection of a society where people who make an person of themselves on TV becomes an overpaid national icon.

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06 Sep 2013 10:54:44
Was just wondering if we or any other EPL teams has taken a look at Fernando of Porto? Always struck me as a good young(ish) defensive midfielder. With only a year left on his contract and experience playing at the top level (champions league football), could be great back up / competition for Lucas (I still believe losing him for a chunk of last season is what really hurt us in terms of league position). {Ed023's Note - Everton were in talks on deadline day}

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The player we should have gone for was Leroy Fer who is now at Norwich. Man of the match in their last game. Norwich are putting together a good team there by the way, and a good manager, do you know how much the transfer fee was Ed? {Ed002's Note - A little under £5M excluding taxes etc..}

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If I'm not mistaken, Fer has long standing injury problems. I think that why everton turned him down. Can you confirm this eds? {Ed002's Note - He had a knee problem a while back.}

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06 Sep 2013 10:01:08
What a difference 12 months make, I see a lot of people talking about suarez getting back in team & if so who gets dropped etc etc. This time last year a lot of us were very disgrunted bunch who were wondering if we even had a decent 11, never mind a good squad of 18, plus a few others who sometimes won't even make the match day squad. My point is I think br deserves a bit of credit for sticking to his guns & building HIS squad. It might not have all the 'marquee' signings every one wanted but it has a lot of talent & desire in there & if they believe & stick together then the sky is the limit. I for one can't wait to see how the season pans out.

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I agree. The fact we can even debate on Suarez earning a place back in the 11 speaks highly of the progress we have made as a team and our current form.

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Agreed

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06 Sep 2013 08:37:37
Hi ed002 I was trying to find that information about the European leagues and teams moving off to create there own league etc, I was wondering if you already have it written out could you please paste it here, or if not could you give me some key words that would help me find it.
Thanks

{Ed002's Note - Without going in to too much detail: (a) A number of clubs take the opportunity a once or twice a year to discuss various issues including changes in rules, television rights, the power of UEFA, exploitation issues for new technology streams, etc.. These discussions, the last of which were in late August, also always turn to the possibility and structure of a breakaway pan European league. Several are ex-G14 clubs, several are not, and some clubs decline involvement in such discussions. (b) The plan is that at some point a number of clubs would break away from their national leagues and UEFA. They accept that they would be banned from all existing club competition and the players would initially be banned from all FIFA competitions as well, but know that FIFA would be looking to negotiate in any case. It would be the end of UEFA in all probability and UEFA are very aware of this. It would also result in a restructuring of many of the national leagues. (c) The clubs would renegotiate their television rights, rights of distribution via other streams etc.. (d) It remains the greatest fear of UEFA and all major national authorities that one day this will happen.

There is every likelihood that the big money from television, sponsorship etc. would go with a breakaway league. It would completely rupture the operations of UEFA and I would expect it would require national associations like the FA to restructure their leagues. Nobody wants this but it is the eventual consequence I would expect. If I had to speculate, I would think (1) you might eventually see something like five or six EPL teams leave for two-tier pan European league; (2) the Premier League would be disbanded as an organisation; (3) the FA would restructure in to two 20 team divisions with lower leagues regionalised as they were many years ago; (4) FIFA would ban all players from the breakaway teams from International football - perhaps rescinding that position to stop FIFA breaking up as well. I could also see many teams lose their professional status. I would think we are probably 10 years away from any significant move at this time.

I hold a reasonably strong view in terms of the need to restructure football in Europe in any case. For me an eventual a breakaway pan-European league would force the restructuring of many of the national leagues, possibly resulting in a British league with perhaps only a couple of professional tiers and then regionalised amateur leagues below that. Financially I do not see that so many pro sides can be sustained within the sport which, like it or not, will see more and more money going in to the highest levels of the game. Governments will ensure that grassroots sport get funding but everything in the middle (Southern, Northern, Conference, Division 2, Scottish Divisions 1-3, League of Wales) will not get the funding needed to continue on any sort of professional basis.}

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Thanks so much,
Really appreciate it. {Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}

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WOW. good job you didn't go into too much detail there Ed. awesome

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We best win the premiership before this happens just to say we did. Time to stop messing around

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Sorry Ed probably not interested in going into to this but if this did happen. Could teams get promoted into this league from their domestic country. I.E Barcelona finish bottom and say Villareal win their national league. Barcelona back down and Villareal into the pan European league. Just a thought {Ed002's Note - Certainly the traditional model has not seen any promotion or relegation - and I rather doubt there would be.}

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Only way I can see a new club getting into 1 of these break away leagues is they get rich owners or suddenly become huge earners be a shame to see it happen but i'm sure the clubs involved would rake the money in and the away games would be slightly more glamerous but I think its going to happen just a matter of time

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06 Sep 2013 08:14:28
John cross seems to think Arsenal will bid again for Suarez in Jan. He seems obsessed with him. He has also said if Arsenal don't get him in Jan they will get him in the summer. We should have sold him will this never end. It seems this will only disrupt Liverpool in future transfer windows.

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Lazy journalism, they know Suarez sells papers. John Cross is delusional if he really thinks Suarez is going to be allowed to go to Arsenal. It a non story, just ignore the lazy journalism.

They don't have any real news and just keep regurgitating old stories. The day Suarez comes back, the papers will be all over Suarez, followed by a slow build up of hatred against him. He was their darling when they thought he was going to Arsenal, he will be the new target of derision soon, mark my words

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John Cross wants Suarez at Arsenal more than anyone at AFC. He is also a poor journalist. He has been doing Suarex exclusives all summer.

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06 Sep 2013 03:26:13
Im not sure if I have read the right list for our PL squad. Am I correct that Luis Alberto isn't in it? Thanks. {Ed002's Note - He doesn't need to be named.}

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Why is that Ed? {Ed002's Note - The squad only comprises the players over 21.}

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DOH!. of course. Have to say Ed you really are on the ball, your knowledge is frightening {Ed002's Note - So my knowledge has caught up with my looks?}

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Not yet Ed002, that will take some time.

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Maybe your looks are just perfect for a banter site Ed. or even radio {Ed002's Note - I remember listening to jugging on the radio on March 28, 1981 when visiting England prior to moving to Europe.}

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But he was not on the list of U21 players either. {Ed002's Note - He will have been on the lists submitted. You are worrying unnecessarily.}

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06 Sep 2013 00:42:40
Hi Eds,

Many Thanks for the hard work in the transfer window.

In the last few days ed001 or ed002 said they believed a 'twist' would happen on deadline day with regards to the center back situation. Could you please explain now that the window is closed and (hopefully!) everyone is happy.

Thanks {Ed002's Note - It was expected that one of the others would leave.}

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Thanks ed002. Which one was expected; Agger or Skrtl? {Ed002's Note - I don't want to open that all up again, but you can check the search engine.}

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06 Sep 2013 02:07:29
Slightly disappointed we didn't sign costa, after watching his first 3 games this year, the guys a beast reminds me of a faster angrier hulk! Reports of us going back in for him in January are out already. I hope so!

Different topic: would like to know who u guys feel we're gunna drop points to in the next 6 games, I no it can be unpredictable as city fans probably thought they would beat Cardiff 5-0, but would like your thoughts! Swansea A Southampton H Sunderland A crystal palace H Newcastle A WBA H.

Swansea away is obviously a tough one. Thoughts?

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The positive thing for me is that last year that questioned could have realistically been anybody. This year we seem better defensively, more energetic and cohesive in midfield and have a stiker on form. I do honestly think we have a good chance of dropping no points, but it would be unlikely. If I had to pick one, it would be a home game because teams park the bus at Anfield.

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He is learning. Rogers is building from the back, like all great managers have done. Weve got great central defenders now in Toure, Skrtl, Agger, Sakho the beats and Ilori. with additional backup in Wisdom and Kelly. That is an awesome position to be in. If we build our team around this bedrock, we can become a force again. A few more tweaks, say a good defensive/creative midfielder plus a world class striker and we are there.

I have great hopes this season, we do not look as fragile any more, the players ALL fight for each other, and we have that winning mentality which is exactly what BR has wanted all along.
Unfortunately we didn't have that spirit with some of the players who have left in what will become folklore as 'the summer of the long knives'

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Being realistic with our form, I see around 13-15 points from those games.

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